Rechargeable battery charging case

ABSTRACT

The invention is based on a rechargeable battery charging case, in particular a cordless handheld power tool case, having at least one battery attachment device and a case body. It is proposed that the rechargeable battery charging case has an electrical energy output and a supply unit, which in at least one operating state is connected to the energy output and to the battery attachment device for supplying the energy output.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on German Patent Application 10 2009 027 571.1filed Jul. 9, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is based on a rechargeable battery charging case, inparticular a cordless power tool case, having at least one batteryattachment device and a case body.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A rechargeable battery charging case, in particular a cordless handheldpower tool case, having at least one battery attachment device and acase body, has already been proposed.

ADVANTAGES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is proposed that the battery charging case has an electrical energyoutput and a supply unit, which in at least one operating state isconnected to the energy output and to the battery attachment device forsupplying the energy output. The term “battery attachment device” isintended in particular to mean a device which is intended, in at leastone operating state, to exchange electrical energy with at least onebattery directly or indirectly. Advantageously, the battery attachmentdevice is intended in particular for at least one battery and/orpreferably at least one battery charger to be connected to it, and/orfor it to form at least part of a battery charger. Preferably, thebattery attachment device is connected mechanically fixedly and/ormechanically disconnectably at least partially with at least one batteryand/or with a battery charger. The term “case body” is intended to meanin particular a part of the battery charging case that in a closed statedefines a receiving region at least for the battery attachment device ofthe battery charging case and in particular for a power tool. The term“supply unit” is intended to mean in particular a unit which in at leastone operating state makes at least one electrically conductiveconnection between the energy output and the battery attachment device.Advantageously, the supply unit has at least one cable. In particular,the term “electrical energy output” is intended to mean a device whichis intended for conducting electrical energy, which is intended herealso to include energy from a magnetic field, out of the case body.Preferably, the electrical energy output is intended for conductingenergy onward to a third device. Advantageously, the electrical energyis embodied as a direct or alternating voltage. The term “connected”should be understood in particular to mean coupled electrically and/ormechanically.

By the embodiment according to the invention of the battery chargingcase, the battery charging case can advantageously be used as a portableelectrical energy source, and in particular can supply further deviceswith energy, in particular in cordless fashion.

The invention is furthermore based on a battery charging case, inparticular a cordless power tool case, having at least one batteryattachment device and a case body.

It is proposed that the battery attachment device has at least onecoupling element, which is provided for connecting at least one batterycharger of the battery attachment device disconnectably mechanically anddisconnectably electrically to the case body. Advantageously, thecoupling element in at least one operating state transmits energy, inparticular between the battery charger and the case body. Preferably,the coupling element connects the battery charger and the case bodydisconnectably and without tools. Especially advantageously, thecoupling element includes a detent device, for instance a detent hookfixedly connected to the battery charger and/or a detent strip connectedto the case body. The term “battery charger” should be understood inparticular to mean a unit which is intended to be connected,advantageously releasably, to a battery, at least for charging thebattery. Advantageously, the battery charger is also intended fordischarging a battery that is connected to the battery charger.Preferably, a supply unit connects the battery charger of the batteryattachment device with an energy output of the case body.Advantageously, the battery charger has at least one element that isintended for monitoring a battery.

By means of this further feature according to the invention, an energyexchange that can be designed flexibly can be achieved. In particular, abattery charger that can be used independently of the battery chargingcase can be furnished in a structurally simple way.

The invention is furthermore based on a battery charging case, inparticular a cordless power tool case, having a case body.

It is proposed that the case body has a suspension device with an energyinput and/or an energy output. Advantageously, the suspension device isembodied as a recess, a hook, or some other suspension device thatappears appropriate to one skilled in the art, and/or advantageously asa handle. The term “energy input” should be understood to mean inparticular a device which is intended for transmitting an electricaland/or magnetic energy from a third device to the battery charging case.

By means of this feature according to the invention of the batterycharging case, the battery charging case can be connected especiallyconveniently, for the purpose of charging a battery, to an energy sourceor energy reservoir.

In an advantageous feature of the invention, it is provided that thebattery charging case has a battery attachment device, as a result ofwhich the battery charging case can exchange energy with a battery, inparticular by means of a battery charger, in an especially flexible andstructurally simple way.

The invention is furthermore based on a battery charging case, inparticular a cordless power tool case, having at least one batteryattachment device and a case body, in which it is proposed that the casebody has at least one BUS system, which is intended for connecting aplurality of units at least electrically. The term “BUS system” shouldbe understood in particular to mean a connection network having aplurality of BUS nodes, with at least two BUS nodes connected in seriesand serving to transmit energy and/or preferably data. In particular,the BUS system is provided for connecting at least two BUS nodesparallel by means of an unbranched BUS line unit. The term “BUS node”should be understood in particular to mean a region of the BUS systemthat is intended for being electrically connected to one of the units.Advantageously, each BUS node has at least two electrical nodes, whichare intended for being electrically connected to the unit. Especiallyadvantageously, the two nodes, in at least one operating state, have adifferent electrical potential. Advantageously, the BUS system isintended for connecting at least one battery, at least one electricalenergy consumer, at least one supply unit, at least one batteryattachment device, and/or in particular at least one battery charger.Especially advantageously, the BUS system is intended for connecting aplurality of battery chargers. Preferably, the BUS system is intendedfor transmitting electrical energy, measurement value information,and/or data. Advantageously, the BUS system is connected mechanicallyfixedly to at least a part of the case body.

By means of the BUS system, units connected to the battery attachmentdevice can be supplied with energy and/or data in a structurally simpleway.

It is furthermore proposed that the battery charging case has a batterycharger which is intended for charging a battery separately from thecase body. The term “separately from the case body” should be understoodin particular that the battery charger is intended for being removedfrom the battery charging case and charging a battery, as a result ofwhich the battery charger can be used and/or sold especially flexibly,even without the battery charging case.

It is furthermore proposed that the battery charging case includes atleast one battery charger which has at least one coupling device, whichis intended for charging a battery in electrically contactless fashion.Preferably, the coupling device is also intended for discharging abattery, connected to the battery charger, in an electricallycontactless fashion. The term “electrically contactless” should beunderstood in particular to mean without material contact, that is,without an electrically conductive material connection. Advantageously,the device transmits an electrical energy, and advantageously data aswell, by means of a capacitive, electromagnetic, and/or advantageouslyinductive connection. By means of the coupling device, the batterycharger can advantageously be connected to the battery in a manner thatis not vulnerable to dirt and is protected against short-circuiting.

It is furthermore proposed that the battery charging case has anelectronic unit, which is intended for furnishing an adjustable outputvoltage. Advantageously, the electronic unit makes it possible to adjusta value of the output voltage, a frequency of the output voltage, and/ora value of an output current, advantageously a maximum output current.Especially advantageously, the value of the output voltage, thefrequency of the output voltage, and/or the value of the output currentis adjustable by a user. By means of the electronic unit, the batterycharging case can advantageously be used as a flexible, portable and inparticular cordless voltage source and thus can optionally replace anadditional voltage source.

It is also proposed that the battery charging case has an electronicunit which is intended for furnishing at least one alternating voltage.Advantageously, the electronic unit furnishes an alternating voltagethat meets the IEC standard 60038:1983, has a voltage of 110 V at 60 Hz,and/or corresponds to some other mains voltage that appears appropriateto one skilled in the art. Alternatively and/or in addition, theelectronic unit can furnish a direct voltage, such as 5 V, 12 V, and/or24 V. The term “usual mains voltage” should be understood in particularto mean a voltage of the kind furnished by at least one energy supplierin a power grid. By means of the electronic unit, the battery chargingcase can advantageously supply energy in cordless fashion to devicesoperated with an alternating voltage, in particular with a mainsvoltage.

In addition, it is proposed that the battery charging case has at leastone USB interface. Preferably, the USB interface is embodied as anenergy output. The term “USB interface” should be understood inparticular to mean at least one plug and/or one outlet on a USB standard(Universal Serial Bus). By the USB interface, a large number ofdifferent devices with USB interfaces can be supplied with electricalenergy in an especially convenient way, in cordless fashion and withoutan additional power supply unit.

In a further feature, it is proposed that the BUS system has at leasttwo receiving regions for at least one individual, particular unit.Advantageously, in the receiving regions, the unit can be disposed alonga graduation or grid in discrete different positions or in continuouslyvariable or transitionless fashion along a course. Preferably, thereceiving regions at least partly overlap. The unit is advantageouslyembodied as a battery charger. By means of the receiving regions, a usercan dispose the unit or a plurality of units conveniently, variably, andin a space-saving way, and in particular, different units with differentexternal dimensions can advantageously be disposed.

A system with a battery and a battery charging case is advantageouslyproposed as well, and the battery is intended to be charged whileconnected to a power tool by the battery charging case. The term“rechargeable battery” should be understood in particular to mean a unithaving at least one accumulator cell. Advantageously, the battery isintended for supplying a motor and/or a measuring sensor of a power toolwith energy. The term “handheld power tool” should be understood inparticular to mean all power tools that appear appropriate to oneskilled in the art, such as power drills, impact drills, saws, planes,screwdrivers, milling cutters, sanders, right-angle sanders,multifunction tools, and/or manual measuring tools and in particularpower tools. In particular, the phrase “a battery connected to a powertool” should be understood to mean a battery that is connected in anelectrically conductive fashion to a power tool. By means of the system,a battery that is connected to a power tool can be charged convenientlyfor a user, in particular without the user having to disconnect thebattery and the power tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be better understood and further advantages thereofwill become more apparent from the ensuing detailed description of apreferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a battery charging case of the invention in a perspectiveview.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a battery charging case 10 of the invention in aperspective view. The battery charging case 10 is embodied as a cordlesspower tool case and has a battery attachment device 12. The batterycharging case 10 furthermore has a case body 14 with a bottom body 44and a case lid 46. The bottom body 44 and the case lid 46, when the caselid 46 is closed, define a receiving region 48 of the case body 14 forthe battery attachment device 12, for rechargeable batteries 38, forbattery chargers 26, 28, 30, and for one or more power tools (not shownin detail).

The battery charging case 10 has an electrical energy output 16 and asupply unit 18. The supply unit 18 has an electronic unit 40 and twoelectrical connecting elements 50, 52. The connecting elements 50, 52are each embodied as cables. One connecting element 50 connects thesupply unit 18, in particular the electronic unit 40 of the supply unit18, to the energy output 16. The other connecting element 52 connectsthe supply unit 18 and the electronic unit 40 to the battery attachmentdevice 12. Thus the supply unit 18 connects the energy output 16 and thebattery attachment device 12 for supplying the energy output 16 withelectrical energy.

The battery charging case 10 has three battery chargers 26, 28, 30. Thebattery attachment device 12 has three coupling means 20, 22, 24, formedby detent strips. The coupling means 20, 22, 24 connect the batterychargers 26, 28, 30 both mechanically and electrically disconnectably toa BUS system 36 of the case body 14. Thus the supply unit 18 can supplythe energy output 16 with electrical energy from a plurality ofbatteries 38 that, are connected to the battery chargers 26, 28, 30. Thebattery chargers 26, 28, 30 have detent hooks, not identified byreference numeral, which are intended for being latched in the detentstrips or in the coupling means 20, 22, 24. Electric lines of the BUSsystem 36 are disposed in the coupling means 20, 22, 24.

The BUS system 36 is connected mechanically fixedly to the bottom body44 of the case body 14 and connects the battery chargers 26, 28, 30electrically to one another. The BUS system 36 furthermore connects thebattery chargers 26, 28, 30 electrically to the supply unit 18, via theconnecting element 52. The BUS system 36 has a plurality of receivingregions 43 for the battery chargers 26, 28, 30. The battery chargers 26,28, 30 can be disposed at arbitrary positions along a course thatextends parallel to the coupling means 20, 22, 24.

Alternatively, battery chargers can be partly embodied in one piece withthe case body 14; for instance, charging shafts of the battery chargers,not shown in detail, and a region for a charging electronic unit, notshown in detail, of the battery chargers can be extruded together withthe case body 14.

The battery chargers 26, 28, 30 each have one energy input 56, by meansof which they can be connected directly to a respective energy source,not shown in detail, such as a power supply unit, in order to chargebatteries 38 in a region that is separate from the case body 44, and inparticular that is outside the receiving region 43. The energy input 56is embodied as part of a plug connection.

The first battery charger 26 has electrical contacts, not identified byreference numeral. By means of the contacts, the first battery charger26 is connected electrically directly to the battery 38, in order tocharge and discharge the battery 38. The second battery charger 28 has acoupling device 39, which is embodied as a coil. By means of thecoupling device 39, the battery charger can, in electrically contactlessfashion, charge and discharge a battery 38 and exchange data with thebattery 38. The third battery charger 30 has a battery connection cable58. By means of the battery connection cable 58, the battery charger 30can charge and discharge a battery (not identified by reference numeral)that is connected to a power tool. To that end, the battery, such as thebattery 38 shown, has an, energy input 60, which is contactable when thebattery 38 is connected to the power tool.

The battery chargers 26, 28, 30 each have a respective monitoring device62, 64, 66, which monitor a temperature a charge state of the batteries38 that are connected to the battery chargers 26, 28, 30. Alternatively,the supply unit 18 could have a monitoring device that monitors all orat least a plurality of the battery chargers connected to the supplyunit 18 and the batteries connected to the battery chargers, forinstance by means of a multiplexer. In that case, the monitoring deviceis embodied as partly in one piece with the electronic unit of thesupply unit 18, and the BUS system 36 has data and/or measurement lines.

The case body 14 has three energy inputs 34, 68, 70, which are connectedto the supply unit 18. The first energy input 68 is embodied as a 12 to24 Volt direct voltage input and can be supplied with energy from amotor vehicle, not shown. The second energy input 70 is embodied as analternating voltage input and can be supplied with energy by means of analternating voltage (110 to 230 V, 50 to 60 Hz). The case body 14 alsohas a suspension device 32 with the third energy input 34. Thesuspension device 32 is embodied as a handle means. The suspensiondevice 32 connects the third energy input 34 automatically to an energyoutput, not shown, for instance of the motor vehicle, when thesuspension device 32 of the battery charging case 10 is suspended from amount of some kind. It is also possible for one of the energy inputs 34,68, 70, or a further energy input, to be embodied as an electricallycontactless energy input.

In addition, when the battery charging case 10 is being stowed in aregion intended for the purpose of the motor vehicle, an energy input ofthe battery charging case 10 could be connected automatically to anenergy output of the motor vehicle. For instance, the motor vehiclecould have a shelf intended for that purpose.

The supply unit 18 supplies the energy output 16 of the power tool withenergy, either from a battery 38 that is discharged for instance by oneof the battery chargers 26, 28, 30, or by means of one of the energyinputs 34, 68, 70 of the case body 14.

The electronic unit 40, at an element 72 of a plug connection of theenergy output 16, furnishes an adjustable output voltage and, at anotherelement 74 of a plug connection of the energy output 16, it furnishes analternating voltage, which is embodied as a usual mains voltage (230 V,50 Hz and/or 110 V, 60 Hz). The adjustable output voltage can beadjusted by a user, not shown, by means of a rotary knob 76. Forinstance, the adjustable output valve may serve as an aid in startingthe motor vehicle. The battery charging case 10 furthermore has two USBinterfaces 42, which are supplied with a suitable voltage (5 V) by theelectronic unit 40. In addition, other energy outputs, not shown, suchas an on-board electrical system outlet (DIN ISO 4165), an electricallycontactless energy output, and/or devices, not shown, of the batterycharging case 10, such as lamps and/or a radio, could be supplied withenergy by the electronic unit 40.

The foregoing relates to a preferred exemplary embodiment of theinvention, it being understood that other variants and embodimentsthereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, thelatter being defined by the appended claims.

We claimed:
 1. A rechargeable battery charging case, in particular acordless handheld power tool case, having at least one batteryattachment device and a case body, and having an electrical energyoutput and a supply unit, which in at least one operating state isconnected to the energy output and to the battery attachment device forsupplying the energy output.
 2. The rechargeable battery charging caseas defined by claim 1, wherein the battery attachment device has atleast one coupling means, which is provided for connecting at least onebattery charger of the battery attachment device disconnectablymechanically and disconnectably electrically to the case body.
 3. Therechargeable battery charging case as defined by claim 1, further havinga case body, wherein the case body has a suspension device, with anenergy input and/or an energy output.
 4. The rechargeable batterycharging case as defined by claim 2, further having a case body, whereinthe case body has a suspension device, with an energy input and/or anenergy output.
 5. The rechargeable battery charging case as defined byclaim 1, wherein the case body has at least one BUS system, which isprovided for connecting a plurality of units at least electrically. 6.The rechargeable battery charging case as defined by claim 1, furtherhaving a battery charger, which is provided for charging a rechargeablebattery separately from the case body.
 7. The rechargeable batterycharging case as defined by claim 2, further having a battery charger,which is provided for charging a rechargeable battery separately fromthe case body.
 8. The rechargeable battery charging case as defined byclaim 1, further having a battery charger, which has at least onecoupling device that is provided for charging a battery in electricallycontactless fashion.
 9. The rechargeable battery charging case asdefined by claim 2, further having a battery charger, which has at leastone coupling device that is provided for charging a battery inelectrically contactless fashion.
 10. The rechargeable battery chargingcase as defined by claim 1, further having an electronic unit, which isprovided for furnishing an adjustable output voltage.
 11. Therechargeable battery charging case as defined by claim 2, further havingan electronic unit, which is provided for furnishing an adjustableoutput voltage.
 12. The rechargeable battery charging case as defined byclaim 1, further having an electronic unit, which is provided forfurnishing an alternating voltage.
 13. The rechargeable battery chargingcase as defined by claim 2, further having an electronic unit, which isprovided for furnishing an alternating voltage.
 14. The rechargeablebattery charging case as defined by claim 1, further having at least oneUSB interface.
 15. The rechargeable battery charging case as defined byclaim 2, further having at least one USB interface.
 16. The rechargeablebattery charging case as defined by claim 5, wherein the at least oneBUS system has at least two receiving regions for at least oneindividual, particular unit.
 17. A system having a battery and arechargeable battery charging case as defined by claim
 1. 18. The systemas defined by claim 17, wherein the battery is provided for beingcharged, while connected to a power tool, by the rechargeable batterycharging case.
 19. The battery charger of a rechargeable batterycharging case as defined by claim
 2. 20. The battery charger of arechargeable battery charging case as defined by claim 5.